33 2 
A. G. Tansley. 
their journey south-eastwards to New Orleans, while the writer 
travelled north-eastwards to Chicago by the Rock Island line, 
traversing the states of New Mexico, Kansas and Illinois. From 
El Paso (3,700 feet) to Alamogordo (4,312 feet) the country is good 
semi-desert, the average height of the undershrubs not being more 
than eighteen inches. Yucca and Agave are locally abundant, and 
various grasses and other herbs occur—thickly in places—among 
the woody plants, though at this time of year they are mostly dried 
up. Gutierrezia and an Artemisia were also abundant. About 
Alamogordo the shrubs become taller and a fine range of mountains 
with forest on the higher slopes is approached, and before Carrizozo 
(5,438 feet) is reached the grasses have become practically con¬ 
tinuous and the woody plants, except locally, have almost 
disappeared. The “ Great Plains ” region is entered. A species 
of Yucca is still abundant locally. The hills near the railroad are 
scrub-covered to their base, with grassy mesas in front. The line 
steadily climbs, and near Largo (6,000 feet) Juniper scrub mixed 
with Yucca, Dasylirion and a much branched cylindropuntia is 
scattered thickly in the grassland. Presently a Pignon pine comes 
in, mixed with the scrub and forming a dwarf wood. This apparently 
extends over the summit of the divide, which is crossed near 
Corona at 6,666 feet, but darkness prevented further survey of the 
vegetation. 
On the morning of October 1st we entered the south-western 
corner of Kansas, still in the Great Plains type of country. During 
the day as we travelled north eastwards through the state this 
gradually changed to the Prairie type. It is noticeable that here, 
just as further north in Nebraska, while the vegetation of the 
Great Plains is still almost entirely in a natural state, no natural 
prairie could be seen from the train, the land being almost entirely 
arable—now in stubble. Trees began to show much more 
luxuriant growth, and around Herington and beyond natural river- 
bottom woods began to appear, the cultivation stopping, again as 
in eastern Nebraska, with the limits of the original prairie. Around 
Topeka woods—largely of oak—began to appear on the hills, and 
further on thick woods covered the hills, the lowlands being black 
soil prairie, all under crops. Along this diagonal section across the 
state of Kansas no considerable hills are anywhere encountered, 
and the country is all flat or gently rolling plains with occasional 
low ranges. Kansas City was reached after dark, and early in the 
morning we crossed the Mississippi and were soon in the familiar 
country of the state of Illinois, reaching Chicago before noon. 
